Building heating and cooling system



July 2, 1940. I

L. M. PERSONS ,119

BUILDING HEATING AND COOLING, SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /7 4 Z 54 THEE/V6.5 TA TI CA A 1.) 601v TROLLA'D BL awe? V .sa/vs, 39 63 ZAWREA/CE PEP HTTORNEK July 1940' L. M. PERSONS BUILDING HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 r roPA/EK Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,208,ll9 BUILDING HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM Lawrence M. Persons, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to AutomaticControl Corporation, Delaware 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a building,

such as a house, and a temperature thereof.

' In particular, the invention comprehends a 6 house having a unique construction by means of which a new application of heat thereto can be obtained, and a new circulation of the heating medium may be had.

a construction whereby heat may be applied be 10' neath the floors of the building whereby the floors are caused to act as primary radiation surfaces for heating the rooms. In addition, the construction provides for releasing certain parts of theheated air into the rooms after it has circul lated beneath the floors; and subsequently the system includes withdrawing the said air after it has been caused to circulate through the rooms and thence returning it to the furnace.

Heretofore in the heating of buildings, and

20 particularly houses, the application of heat to each room has been effected by directing the heat from one concentrated location, generally adjacent the floor. Even where a return duct is provided on the floor, unevenness of heat dis- 25 tribution. and in particular, stratification, inevitably obtains. This condition is heightened by the efl-ect of windows which, either through leak age or the presentation of cold surfaces, cause cold air currents that drop to the floor while the 30 hot air, of course, is rising to thetop of the I room.

The present construction comprehends also a new method of heating which perhaps may be understood from the discussion previously given. 35 This method involves applying the heat beneath substantially. the entire area of the floor of the building from a single point, releasing the air into the room at the point remote from the entry point, withdrawing the air from a point so located 40 'with respect to the caused to circulate through the room, and reheating the air for subsequent circulation.

With the entire area of the floor heated, the warmth given to the air within the room, by 15 virtue of its contact with the floor, produces a circulation in which the warmed air lifts toward the ceiling, displacing colder air downwardly where it is heated by contact with the warm floors. Any cold air that may come in from the i windows, naturally, falls but, since the floor is heated, this cold air immediately becomes heated and mixeswith the remaining tempered air of the room. By this method stratification of air within the room is reduced to a minimum. Whereas in ordinary heating systems the admethod of regulating the Specifically, it involves release point that the air is St. Louis, Mo., a co poration of Application February 3, 1937, Serial No. 123,838

mitted average temperature differential between floor and ceiling, at a certain given low outside temperature, is 20, and actually may be as high as 28, with the present method and construction, this diflerential is reduced to a fraction of this value and rarely runs higher than Furthermore, with the floor warm and with the circulation described, the feet and legs of the room occupants are kept warm, although it may be that the upper parts of the bodies of the occupants are slightly cooler. If there should be a marked differential, it does not produce the discomfort, since the feet and lower legs are most sensitive to heat maladjustments. In other words, if these lower portions are warm and comfortable, ordinarily the condition of the upper parts of the body may vary somewhat without causing discomfort. The adverse is also true that cold feet and ankles produce discomfort, although the upper partsof the body may be quite comfortable.

Following this same theory of procedure, the construction and method may be employed for cooling the building inhot weather. As will be evident, it is possible to reverse the system. However, this is not necessary. By substituting a refrigerating coil for the furnace, the air may be circulated'across this coil and, as so cooled, be forced beneath the floor of the room and subsequently circulated therethrough, being withdrawn at the ceiling. This produces, perhaps, an exaggerated condition of stratification, since the principal application of cold is made at the floor. However,'this provides that the lower portions of the occupants are cool and comfortable, although there may be a somewhat greater heat condition at their upper portions. Again noting the fact that the lower portions and, in particular,

the feet and ankles are most sensitive to tem-.

perature maladjustments, the persons may be comfortable in this condition of heat distributionqin the room. I 1

In the present invention, it is proposed to distribute the air throughout the floors of a building, it being discharged beneath the floor of'each story from strategic outlets. structur- I ally this is accomplished by employing web or otherwise open beams for the floor.

It is-an object of the invention -to provide a new method of tempering the area of a building, by tempering the floors thereof.

It is a further object of the invention so to temper the air by providing an outlet for tempered air at one point beneath the-floor of the building and from this" point circulating it throughout the area beneath the floor aforesaid.

It is a further object after circulation of the tempered air beneath the floor to discharge the said air into the room.

It is a further object to withdraw air from the room in such wise as to cause circulation of the tempered air through the room,

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to direct air beneath the floor of a story of a building having a plurality of rooms, thence to circulate the air beneath the floors and discharge it into the several rooms, and finally to withdraw the air from the rooms, at points so situated relative to the release point, that the tempered air is caused to circulate throughout the rooms.

It is a further object to provide, as set forth in connection with the previous objects, means to temper the air either by heating means or cooling means.

It is a further object to provide means to adjust the fiow of the tempered air so that the proper relative quantities between stories may be had.

Further objects will appear in the description to follow. Throughout this specification and claims, where the expression tempering the air" is used, such is designed to mean either heating the air or cooling the same.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a two story building showing the application of the invention taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the first story, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2, showing the floor beam construction and release discharge.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line looking lengthwise of the beams.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section looking down through the furnace and into the fire box taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the cold air manifold.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section enlarged from Fig. 1, showing a portion of the air withdrawal passages.

Fig. 8 is a view of the air withdrawal passages with the molding broken away and looking directly at the passages.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the construction at points at which no withdrawal passages are provided.

The building comprises side walls l0 covered by a top wall ll shown cut away in Fig. 1. A lower floor, generally indicated at l2, and an upper fiaor, generally indicated at l5, extend'between the side walls and divide the house into a basement l4, first story l5, and a second story Hi. In the building shown each story is divided into four rooms, these representing any arrangement of rooms that maybe desired. On the first floor, there are provided partitions generally indicated at H, l8, l9 and 20. Corresponding partition walls are found on the second floor, one of which is shown at 2|. Partitions I1 and I8 divide out a room A; partitions l8 and I9 divide out a room B; partitions l1 and 25 divide out a room C; and partitions l5 and divide out a room D. It is understood that the partitions on the second story correspondingly divide that story into rooms E, F, G and H located respectively over rooms A, B, C and D. The partition 2! directly over the partition 18 separates rooms E and F. As shown in the plan of Fig. 2 suit- 4-4 of Fig. 2

able doorways may be provided in the partitions.

The floors l2 and I3 are similar in construction. In each are provided beams 25. Figs. 3 and 4 show that these beams are open and, in the specific construction employed, consist of opposed angle irons and 21 spaced by latticed elements 28. Consequently, these beams provide an open space throughout the area beneath the floor.

- Laid across the tops of the beams is an underflooring that may be of any suitable material, such as concrete. A floor covering 3| is laid over the underfiooring- 30 and may be of wood, cork, or the like.

Beneath the beams, there spans an upper ceiling 32 which, with the underflooring 30, encloses the space between the two and around the beam. Within any finished room, a ceiling cover 33 is provided, certain details of which will be given hereinafter.

Within the basement l4, and preferably centrally therein, there is located a furnace generally indicated at 55. This includes a fire box 35 from which there extends a smoke manifold 31 designed so as to have a plurality of vertical passages 38 therethrough, and from the outer end of which there extends the smoke pipe 39. A fuel control 40 is provided. on the front of the furnace and the same is thermostatically actuated as will be understood in the art. A shell 4| surrounds the furnace and in this there is provided a thermostatically actuated air circulating pump 42. An outlet conduit 43 from the pump 42 enters a vertical enclosure 44 that surrounds the fire box 36. The enclosure 44 is narrowed above the fire box into the conduit 45 that extends upwardly through an opening provided in the ceiling 32, whence it may discharge hot air into the space beneath the lower floor II. A vertical riser 48, somewhat smaller than the conduit 45, extends into the latter and passing upwardly through the floors 3| and 32, extends through the ceilings 32 and 33 of the first floor, whence it may convey some of the heat from the conduit 45 to the space beneath the second floor 30. Reference to Fig. 2 shows that both of these conduits are centrally located of the building, this being the preferable location.

The action of the blower 42, therefore, draws air through the smoke manifold 31 to preheat the same, then forces this air over the fire box to bring it to the desired temperature, and finally forces it through the fiue 45 and riser 48 to discharge it beneath both fioors where it may heat the same. A gate valve 48 is located at the junction of the conduit 45 and riser 46, and may be swung by a suitable outside handle to close, or

partially to close, either the conduit or the riser.

As has been noted, this hot air is released into the rooms. To obtain the most desirable circulation, the release outlets are provided on the two walls of the room opposite the central passages of the heating fiues. This is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. To accomplish this, release openings are provided adjacent the fioor along these two opposite walls. For instance, referring to room A, Figs. 3 and 4 show these outlets, Fig. 3 being across the beams. Along these two walls, the floor 3i terminates short of the side walls l0 and is provided with short vertical risers 50. The floor surface 5| may be conveniently turned up along these risers as at 5|. Along the walls l0 inside the building are provided inside walls 52 spaced from the walls l0, and this space is desirably filled with insulation 53. The walls 52 and insulation 53 adjacent the release openings terminate short of the floor and slightly above the risers 56. A flanged molding 54 is secured to the bottom of the walls 52, its extension 55 overhanging the risers 56 concealing the top of the same and providing the outlets 56. If desirable, moldable material 51 and 58 may be provided to round the corners and direct the air fiow from the space surrounding the beams 25 out the release passages 56. Preferably the molding 54 is carried around the room to provide uniform appearance. However, except for the walls in which it is desired to have the release passages, the opening providing them is closed either bycarrying the walls 52 down or the risers 56 up.

The hot air thus circulates completely beneath the floors of the rooms and is released into the rooms along the walls opposite the fiue 45 and the riser 46.

It is provided also that the air may be withdrawn from the rooms. It is most desirable that this be done at the ceilings thereof and as nearly as may be opposite the discharge openings 56. To this end, each room is provided with a molding 66 around it and near the ceiling. This molding is flanged outwardly at 6| and is secured at the top of the wall 52, this wall being secured to the studs 63 on the partition. Insulation is not necessary for the partition as is the case for the outer walls. The ceiling 33 is continued around and downwardly as at 34 until it meets the upper edge of the walls 52. This manner of joined walls and ceiling is not necessary since, if desired, the walls 52 may continue up until they join the ceiling in the usual manner.

Between certain selected studs, the depending portions 64 of the ceiling 33 are provided with openings 65 that lead into the space between the studs, this space being enclosed by the studs and the walls 52, as is clear from Fig. 1. For the second story, since the studs terminate at the floor, a conduit 66 is provided to communicate the space between the designated studs of the second story with corresponding ones on the first story, whereby a cold air conduit is eifected extending from adjacent the ceiling of the second story down to the floor of the first story.

As is shown in Fig. 2, this cold air duct for the two upstairs rooms E and F is in the partition wall la; the duct for the upper floor rooms G and H is provided in the partition wall 20; the duct for rooms A and C is provided in partition wall I! and that for rooms B and D is provided in partition wall IQ. of course, other arrangements of the ducts may be employed, or conduits separate from the walls may be used if desired, but it adds simplicity to use the space between certain studs 'as described.

Beneath the floor of the first story, the furnace shell 45 on the cold air intake side is provided with a manifold 68. This manifold communicates with each of the cold air flues within the partition walls and flares out as at 69 over the smoke manifold 31 of the furnace itself. In

this portion 69 are provided filters 16 and also a refrigeration coil II that extends across this passage. The refrigeration coil is provided with a cut-off 12 so that it may be rendered inoperative.

In the practice of the method, the furnace is thermostatically controlled, as is well known in the art, by the temperature of the building. The blower 42 is likewise thermostatically controlled so as to deliver air at constant temperature, this 3 being effected by varying its speed in proportion to increase in temperature of the furnace. Preferably the air is delivered at a temperature of approximately to E. The air enters the enclosure 44 whence it the floors to each story. In order to obtain proper division of the air between stories, the valve 48 is adjusted to cut-01f part of the flow from either the conduit 45 or riser 46, and thereby to direct more to the other.

In hot weather the furnace is not used and instead the refrigerating coil 1|, carrying a re- 25 frigerant from a suitable refrigerating mechanism, is rendered operative. The blower operates the same as with the furnace, drawing the air across the coil H to cool the same, thence forcing it up beneath the floors. the direction of the blower 42 may be reversed, causing the cold air to enter the rooms at the ceilings thereof, whence it falls to the fioors and is' drawn out the passages 56. This last is not necessary, as is explained above.

It is preferable, though not absolutely necessary, to have rooms on difierent floors exhaust into different cold air ducts, since otherwise the action of the blower might cause more air to be drawn from one story than from another. obviously, the points of the various cold air ducts, as well as the hot air passages, are proportioned to the needs of the particular building.

It thus may be seen that a new building construction and new method of tempering the air 45 in buildings has been provided. It may be used with any type of building and any type of fuel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a method of regulating the temperature of a building having a plurality of rooms on one floor, the steps of passing air through a tempering medium, discharging said air beneath'the floor of the building at a central point, causing remotely from said discharge point and adjacent the floor, exhausting said air adjacent the ceiling of each room and across from said releasing points, and directing said exhaust air back into said tempering medium.

- 2. An air tempering system for a building "having at least two storie a floor for each story,

partition walls over each floor dividing the stories 05 into a plurality of rooms, means beneath each floor providing an enclosed space under and in heat conducting relation to said floor, a tempering means, an'enclosure around the same, means air from said tempering 70 is forced up beneath 5 The valve may of 10' course be left in neutral position. The remote run to the intake 15 r. if desired, 30

Quite 40 the edges of the floor 4' remote from discharging points to release the tempered air into the rooms at points remote from the discharge points, a withdrawal opening adjacent the ceiling of each room across the room from the release passages, withdrawal conduits enclosed by said partition walls, and leading from said openings to said tempering means enclosure, there being at least one withdrawal conduit for each story, and a blower in said enclosure applying positive pressure to force air across said tempering means, under said floors to temper the same, and into said rooms, and also applying negative pressure to withdraw said air through said withdrawal conduits.

3. An air tempering system including an air tempering means, a floor comprising beams the webs of which are provided with multiple openings whereby the channels between the beams are in free communication, flooring laid over the beams and closing the top thereof, ceiling over the bottom of the beams and enclosing the bottom, conduit means from the tempering means discharging air into the floor space adjacent one side 01! the room, whereby the air may flow radially from the conduit under the entire floor. release outlets along the floor edge of the room opposite the discharge conduit to release the air into the room, a withdrawal opening in the room at the ceiling on a wall adjacent the discharge conduit, a withdrawal conduit extending from the withdrawal opening through the wall to the tempering means, and a blower to circulatethe air as above.

LAWRENCE M. PERSONB. 

